《2024年高考英语名校真题二轮零失误规范训练》（湖南专用）
专题03 阅读理解说明文最新真题模拟16篇（干货+模拟）
解析版
技能专区：冲刺备考名师提醒，洞悉高考命题规律，提供高效提分干货
一、阅读理解说明文细节理解题注意落实“定位原文”和“同义替换”技巧。
二、数据计算题注重“原文定位”和“细节理解”，弄清来龙去脉再计算。
三、重视说明文“倒三角形”结构，特别是首段和段首的独特引领作用。
四、标题概括题重视三性：概括性、简洁性和新颖性；同时联系首段和关键词。
五、说明文长难句较多增加了理解的难度，落实“括号法”，（从句）（非谓语）
（介词短语）（名词短语）。
六、规范训练目标：做标记，留痕迹；零失误；限时6分钟/每篇。
模拟专区：做好题才有好成绩！练技能，补漏洞，提分数，强信心！
（2024·湖南·一模）On December 16, 2023, the first section of Maya Train officially opened, which runs between Campeche and Cancún, carrying up to 231 passengers across 290 miles and stopping at 14 train stations.
Built as an ambitious effort to promote tourism and boost Mexico’s economy, the rail system connects the major cities and tourist regions of the Yucatán Peninsula-from Cancún’s beaches to Tulum’s archaeological (考古的) wonders. Once the project is completed, the entire rail system will link tourist destinations across five states. However, environmentalists and archaeologists argue that the train route will cause great damage to the environment and ancient Mayan sites.
The Maya Train passes through six UNESCO World Heritage sites, and thousands of archaeological sites. One particular area of concern is the Calakmul biosphere reserve, which is home to many endangered species, such as jaguars and over 500 other animal species. The train lines, more than 60 meters wide, could act as artificial barriers that may limit the movement of these animals within the reserve, making it difficult for them to move around and access food and water sources.
Opponents also express safety concerns. Certain sections of the rail system will be built right on top of the aquifer’s (地下水层的) most fragile points of contact with the surface. “It’s like wanting to build over eggshells, says Guillermo Christy, a water treatment consultant.” Putting trains weighing thousands of tons on top could cause the underground caves to crash down. To construct the train infrastructure (基础设施) also requires driving long piles deep into the ground, which poses a big threat to this fragile ecosystem and leads to water shortages.
In the ongoing debate of Maya Train, it is crucial to consider the delicate balance between economic development and environmental preservation. While Maya Train may provide economic benefits, we must not overlook the potential environmental and cultural losses, as well as the safety risks it may bring. Achieving harmony between progress and conservation may be a significant challenge for the project, but we must take into account the long-term consequences of our actions.
1．What do we know about the Maya Train project
A．It consumes lots of labor in Mexico.
B．It was completed on December 16, 2023.
C．It has concerned some professionals.
D．It blocks the development of local tourism.
2．What is the effect of the train lines on the animals in the reserve
A．They disturb their sleeping patterns. B．They restrict their activities.
C．They pollute their water sources. D．They engage their enemies to the area.
3．Why does the author mention “eggshells” in paragraph 4
A．To show the difficulty of constructing the rail lines.
B．To prove the urgency of protecting the fragile ecosystem.
C．To explain the reasons for water shortages along the railway.
D．To stress the potential harm of Maya Train to the aquifer system.
4．Which statement would the author probably agree with
A．Preserving cultural sites requires strong financial support.
B．It is time to speed up the construction process of Maya Train.
C．Economic development should not come at the expense of the environment.
D．We should prize the economic benefits of the project in the long run.
【答案】1．C 2．B 3．D 4．C
【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲的是玛雅列车项目给当地带来的好处以及专家们对于这一项目给当地环境及生态将会造成的影响的担忧，并指出我们不应该以牺牲生态为代价来发展经济。
1．细节理解题。根据文章第一段“On December 16, 2023, the first section of Maya Train officially opened,(2023年12月16日，玛雅火车第一段正式开通)”可知，玛雅火车只有第一部分正式对公众开放，所以B项是错的，根据文章第二段“Once the project is completed, the entire rail system will link tourist destinations across five states.(一旦项目完成，整个铁路系统将连接五个州的旅游目的地)”可知，一旦项目完成将会促进旅游业的发展，所以D项不对；A项没有提及；根据文章第二段最后“However, environmentalists and archaeologists argue that the train route will cause great damage to the environment and ancient Mayan sites.(然而，环保主义者和考古学家认为，这条铁路线将对环境和古玛雅遗址造成巨大破坏)”可知，玛雅火车项目也引起了一些专业人士的关注，所以C项正确。故选C项。
2．细节理解题。根据文章第三段“The train lines, more than 60 meters wide, could act as artificial barriers that may limit the movement of these animals within the reserve, making it difficult for them to move around and access food and water sources.(这些超过60米宽的火车线可能会作为人工屏障，限制这些动物在保护区内的活动，使它们难以四处走动，难以获得食物和水源)”可知，这些火车线会限制动物在保护区内的活动。故选B项。
3．推理判断题。第四段第一句“Opponents also express safety concerns.(反对者也表达了对安全的担忧)”为主旨句，所以第四段主要讲的是专家们对于安全方面的担忧，后文的“Certain sections of the rail system will be built right on top of the aquifer’s (地下水层的) most fragile points of contact with the surface.(铁路系统的某些部分将建在含水层与地表接触的最脆弱点的顶部)”以及“Putting trains weighing thousands of tons on top could cause the underground caves to crash down. To construct the train infrastructure (基础设施) also requires driving long piles deep into the ground, which poses a big threat to this fragile ecosystem and leads to water shortages.(把数千吨重的火车放在上面可能会导致地下洞穴坍塌。建设铁路基础设施还需要将长桩深入地下，这对脆弱的生态系统构成了巨大威胁，并导致水资源短缺)”作为两个supporting evidence来支撑主旨句。由此推知，作者提到eggshells(蛋壳)是为了强调玛雅列车项目对含水层系统的潜在危害。故选D项。
4．推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“While Maya Train may provide economic benefits, we must not overlook the potential environmental and cultural losses, as well as the safety risks it may bring. Achieving harmony between progress and conservation may be a significant challenge for the project, but we must take into account the long-term consequences of our actions.(虽然玛雅火车可能提供经济效益，但我们不能忽视潜在的环境和文化损失，以及它可能带来的安全风险。实现进步和保护之间的和谐可能是该项目面临的重大挑战，但我们必须考虑到我们行动的长期后果)”可知，在作者看来虽然玛雅火车项目会带来一定的经济效益，但是我们决不能忽视潜在的环境和文化方面的损失，以及它有可能带来的安全方面的风险。由此推知，我们得认真考虑我们的行为所带来的长期后果，即经济的发展不应该以牺牲环境为代价。故选C项。
（2024·湖南·一模）A lot of manufactured glass today made from sand and sodium carbonate (碳酸钠) can be reused or melted down and recycled into new items, but it doesn’t break down in the environment and will sit in landfills for thousands of years. A team of Chinese scientists aimed to deal with this environmental concern by developing an eco-conscious alternative.
In a study published recently in the journal Science Advances, a team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Process Engineering describe how they engineered biodegradable glass made from amino acids (氨基酸). That glass would have a smaller impact on the environment and can break down in a few weeks or in several months.
In a test, glass beads (珠) made out of amino acids were placed under the skin of mice, and the breakdown of the beads and the skin healing process were observed for 30 days. A diagram from the study shows how the mice’s bodies broke down the beads. In that month, the glass implant degraded beneath the skin, the wound site healed, and fur grew back. “Throughout the experimental period, no mice exhibited any pain-related behavior that may have been caused by the glass implantation, and none of them experienced obvious weight loss,” the researchers wrote in their paper.
Although amino acids do degrade over time in the environment, this biodegradable glass is not as durable as traditional glass, because amino acids can break down quickly in heat. In order to overcome this hurdle, the researchers chemically modified the amino acids using the heating-cooling procedure applied in glass manufacturing. This is when materials for the glass are heated to become soft and then rapidly cooled so as to make the glass tougher.
“It’s important to point out that this biodegradable glass is currently in the lab stage, and far from large-scale commercialization,” emphasized Yan Xuehai, a professor involved in the study, in a press release.
5．What is an advantage of the new glass
A．It can be recycled at a low cost. B．It is produced without pollution.
C．It takes less time to. break down. D．It has a wide range of applications.
6．Why did researchers implant glass beads inside mice
A．To assess whether the glass is biologically harmless.
B．To investigate why amino acids are medically useful.
C．To explore how long it takes for the glass to degrade.
D．To observe if the glass can be melt down in mice’s stomach.
7．What does the underlined word “hurdle” in paragraph 4 refer to
A．The instability of amino acids.
B．The difficulty of selecting materials for the glass.
C．Environmental problems caused by traditional glass.
D．The challenge of improving the heating-cooling procedure.
8．What is the attitude of Yan Xuehai towards the new glass’s launch on the market
A．Optimistic. B．Critical. C．Indifferent. D．Uncertain.
【答案】5．C 6．A 7．A 8．D
【导语】
这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了中国科学院的专家团队利用氨基酸研制出一种可降解的环保玻璃。
5．细节理解题。根据第一段中“A lot of manufactured glass today made from sand and sodium carbonate (碳酸钠) can be reused or melted down and recycled into new items, but it doesn’t break down in the environment and will sit in landfills for thousands of years. (今天，许多由沙子和碳酸钠制成的人造玻璃可以重复使用或熔化并回收成新的物品，但它不会在环境中分解，并将在垃圾填埋场中存放数千年)”和第二段中“That glass would have a smaller impact on the environment and can break down in a few weeks or in several months. (这种（新）玻璃对环境的影响较小，可以在几周或几个月内分解)”可知，新型玻璃的优点是它需要更少的时间来分解。故选C项。
6．细节理解题。根据第三段中“Throughout the experimental period, no mice exhibited any pain-related behavior that may have been caused by the glass implantation, and none of them experienced obvious weight loss (在整个实验期间，没有小鼠表现出任何可能由玻璃植入引起的疼痛相关行为，也没有小鼠出现明显的体重减轻)”可知，研究人员要在老鼠体内植入玻璃珠是为了评估玻璃在生物学上是否无害。故选A项。
7．词句猜测题。根据第四段中“Although amino acids do degrade over time in the environment, this biodegradable glass is not as durable as traditional glass, because amino acids can break down quickly in heat. In order to overcome this hurdle, the researchers chemically modified the amino acids using the heating-cooling procedure applied in glass manufacturing. (尽管氨基酸在环境中会随着时间的推移而降解，但这种可生物降解的玻璃不如传统玻璃耐用，因为氨基酸在高温下会迅速分解。为了克服这一hurdle，研究人员使用玻璃制造中应用的加热-冷却程序对氨基酸进行了化学改性)”可知，这种氨基酸玻璃确实可以随着时间的推移而降解，但是它却不如传统的玻璃那样经久耐用，因为氨基酸在加热下会迅速分解。由此可推知，下文中的“hurdle”指的是氨基酸的不稳定性，是研究者要克服的障碍。故选A项。
8．推理判断题。由最后一段中Yan Xuehai说的话“It’s important to point out that this biodegradable glass is currently in the lab stage, and far from large-scale commercialization (需要指出的是，这种可生物降解的玻璃目前正处于实验室阶段，远未大规模商业化)”可知，这种可降解玻璃目前仍在实验室阶段，还远远不能大规模商业化生产，所以Yan Xuehai态度是不确定的。故选D项。
（2024·湖南张家界·二模）We normally think of bacteria as our enemies. But they aren’t all bad. Our bodies are full of them and it turns out we can’t live without them. From the moment we’re born, we acquire, and develop an internal ecosystem of symbiotic bacteria and other microbes (微生物) -they are interdependent players in our body. In fact, there are roughly as many microbial cells in our bodies as human cells. This microbial world is called our microbiome (微生物组).
While some microbes can make us ill, we need our microbiome to bined, they are every bit as essential as our heart, our lungs, or our brain. Most of the microbiome is found in our gut (肠道). They are essential for digestion and help regulate hormones and boost our immune system.
A healthy collection of microbes seems to be vital for our well-being, protecting against some of the biggest health threats. On the other hand, having an unhealthy microbiome may be a contributing factor for many common diseases. Our modern lifestyles, western diets and overuse of antibiotics might all be having a harmful effect on our internal ecology.
So how do you develop a healthy microbiome in the gut Well, it seems that the more diverse your microbial population is, the better. And the best way to increase your diversity is to eat a wide range of plant-based foods. Research shows that people who have at least 30 plant-based elements in their diet every week have a wider range of bacteria in their gut, and that’s linked to better weight management, better heart heath and better mental health. One easy way to boost your numbers is to add a teaspoon of mixed seeds to your breakfast.
The influence of your gut microbes goes a lot further than you might think. In the last 20 years, we’ve learned that they communicate constantly with the brain, perhaps even having control over your mood and emotions.
9．Which can best replace the underlined word symbiotic in the first paragraph
A．Coexisting. B．Beneficial. C．Special. D．Complicated.
10．Which statement might the author agree with
A．Plant-based diets make people healthier.
B．Microbiome is more important than our brain.
C．There's some link between the diversity of bacteria and health.
D．The overuse of antibiotics leads to distinct increase in microbiome.
11．What might be discussed after the last paragraph
A．Examples of gut microbes.
B．Gut microbes and mental welling-being.
C．Interactions of microbes in our body.
D．Ways to identify beneficial gut microbes.
12．What's the best title for the passage
A．Gut microbes: Fighters in the body
B．The microbiome: A cure of all diseases
C．Gut microbes: Protectors of mental health
D．The microbiome: A contributor to our health
【答案】9．A 10．C 11．B 12．D
【导语】本文是一篇说明文，主要讲述的是肠道中的细菌和微生物对人类身体健康的积极作用。
9．词句猜测题。根据前文“Our bodies are full of them and it turns out we can’t live without them.(我们的身体充满了它们，事实证明我们的生活不能没有它们)”可知，我们和细菌是共存的关系，推知symbiotic意为“共生的”，和A项意思相近。故选A项。
10．推理判断题。由第四段“And the best way to increase your diversity is to eat a wide range of plant-based foods. Research shows that people who have at least 30 plant-based elements in their diet every week have a wider range of bacteria in their gut, and that’s linked to better weight management, better heart heath and better mental health.(增加多样性的最好方法是吃各种各样的植物性食物。研究表明，每周饮食中至少含有30种植物性元素的人肠道细菌种类更广，这与更好的体重管理、心脏健康和心理健康有关)”可知，每周食用至少30种植物元素的人，他们的肠道中有更多种类的细菌，而细菌的种类越多，与更多的体重管理，更好的心脏健康，更好的精神健康相关。故选C项。
11．推理判断题。由文中最后一段“The influence of your gut microbes goes a lot further than you might think. In the last 20 years, we’ve learned that they communicate constantly with the brain, perhaps even having control over your mood and emotions.(肠道微生物的影响比你想象的要大得多。在过去的20年里，我们已经了解到它们不断地与大脑交流，甚至可能控制你的情绪和情绪)”可知，下文作者可能会写肠道微生物对于人类的精神健康的影响。故选B项。
12．主旨大意题。根据第一段“We normally think of bacteria as our enemies. But they aren’t all bad. Our bodies are full of them and it turns out we can’t live without them. From the moment we’re born, we acquire, and develop an internal ecosystem of symbiotic bacteria and other microbes (微生物) -they are interdependent players in our body. In fact, there are roughly as many microbial cells in our bodies as human cells. This microbial world is called our microbiome (微生物组).(我们通常认为细菌是我们的敌人。但也不全是坏事。我们的身体充满了它们，事实证明我们的生活不能没有它们。从我们出生的那一刻起，我们就获得并发展了一个由共生细菌和其他微生物组成的内部生态系统——它们是我们体内相互依存的参与者。事实上，我们体内的微生物细胞和人体细胞一样多。这个微生物世界被称为我们的微生物群)”以及纵观全文可知，本文的主旨主要是讲的肠道微生物对人类的健康的积极影响，所以D项“The microbiome: A contributor to our health(微生物群：对我们的健康有贡献)”是本文最好的标题。故选D项。
（2024·湖南衡阳·一模）People with high levels of niacin, also known as vitamin B3, in their blood may be more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those with lower levels. Excessive amounts of the vitamin, which is routinely added to fortified food and can be taken as a supplement, may inflame blood vessels.
Heart attacks and stroke are leading causes of death worldwide. While researchers have made significant strides over the past few decades in discovering the risk factors for these conditions, they haven’t identified them all.
In an effort to fill these gaps, Stanley Hazen at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and his colleagues collected blood samples from 2331 adults in the US and 832 adults in Europe who had elected to undergo cardiovascular screenings. The team analysed the samples for substances called metabolites, byproducts of metabolic processes such as digestion. The researchers then tracked incidents of cardiac events, such as heart attacks and strokes, among the participants over three years.
They found that people with elevated levels of a metabolite called 4PY, which only arises when the body breaks down excess niacin, were around 60 percent more likely, on average, to experience such an event than those with lower levels. And it was found in further experiment that 4PY causes blood vessel inflammation, a major contributor to the development of heart disease, in rodents.
It isn’t uncommon for people to have high niacin levels, Hazen says. This is partially due to certain foods, such as cereals and flours, being routinely fortified with the vitamin in countries that include the UK and the US. Niacin supplements are also increasingly popular as evidence suggests they have anti-ageing benefits, says Hazen. Plus, it wasn’t until recently that doctors stopped prescribing high-dose niacin to people at risk of cardiovascular disease, as it was initially thought the vitamin protected people from these conditions by lowering cholesterol.
“I think this study really shows that sometimes, when it comes to vitamins, you can have too much of a good thing,” says Jenny Jia at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. However, this research was mainly conducted in people of European ancestry. It is therefore unclear if similar results would occur in people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds, says Jia.
13．What is presented in paragraph 3
A．Theoretical models. B．Research procedures.
C．Practical examples. D．Historical findings.
14．What does the underlined phrase “such an event” in paragraph 4 refer to
A．Increased 4PY. B．Extra niacin.
C．Blood vessel inflammation. D．Cardiovascular diseases.
15．What might not be the reason for people to have high niacin levels
A．Having niacin supplement is fashionable. B．Food with niacin can rapid aging.
C．Certain vitamins are added to foods. D．Niacin was prescribed to people.
16．What attitude might Jia have to the study
A．Neutral. B．Supportive. C．Indifferent. D．Doubtful.
【答案】13．B 14．D 15．B 16．A
【导语】
这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了关于血液中烟酸含量高的人可能比含量低的人更容易患心脏病或中风的一项研究。
13．
主旨大意题。根据第三段“In an effort to fill these gaps, Stanley Hazen at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and his colleagues collected blood samples from 2331 adults in the US and 832 adults in Europe who had elected to undergo cardiovascular screenings. The team analysed the samples for substances called metabolites, byproducts of metabolic processes such as digestion. The researchers then tracked incidents of cardiac events, such as heart attacks and strokes, among the participants over three years. (为了填补这些空白，俄亥俄州克利夫兰诊所的Stanley Hazen和他的同事收集了2331名美国成年人和832名欧洲成年人的血液样本，这些成年人选择接受心血管筛查。研究小组分析了这些样本中被称为代谢物的物质，这是消化等代谢过程的副产品。然后，研究人员在三年的时间里追踪了参与者的心脏事件，比如心脏病发作和中风。)”可知，本段主要介绍了研究的程序步骤。故选B项。
14．
词句猜测题。划线词句前文“The researchers then tracked incidents of cardiac events, such as heart attacks and strokes, among the participants over three years. (然后，研究人员在三年的时间里追踪了参与者的心脏病事件，比如心脏病发作和中风。)”说明研究人员追踪了参与者的心脏病事件，从而推知划线词句“They found that people with elevated levels of a metabolite called 4PY, which only arises when the body breaks down excess niacin, were around 60 percent more likely, on average, to experience such an event than those with lower levels. (他们发现，一种叫做4PY的代谢物水平升高的人比那些水平较低的人平均有60%的可能性经历such an event。)”其中划线部分指的是“心血管疾病”。故选D项。
15．细节理解题。根据第五段“It isn’t uncommon for people to have high niacin levels, Hazen says. This is partially due to certain foods, such as cereals and flours, being routinely fortified with the vitamin in countries that include the UK and the US. Niacin supplements are also increasingly popular as evidence suggests they have anti-ageing benefits, says Hazen. Plus, it wasn’t until recently that doctors stopped prescribing high-dose niacin to people at risk of cardiovascular disease, as it was initially thought the vitamin protected people from these conditions by lowering cholesterol. (Hazen说，人们体内烟酸含量高并不罕见。这在一定程度上是由于某些食物，如谷物和面粉，在包括英国和美国在内的国家经常添加维生素。Hazen说，烟酸补充剂也越来越受欢迎，因为有证据表明它们具有抗衰老的功效。此外，直到最近，医生才停止给有心血管疾病风险的人开大剂量的烟酸处方，因为人们最初认为维生素可以通过降低胆固醇来保护人们免受这些疾病的侵害。)”可知，人们烟酸水平高的原因有某些维生素被添加到食物中、服用烟酸补充剂是一种时尚以及烟酸是给人开的处方。原因中不包含B项，故选B项。
16．
推理判断题。根据最后一段“‘I think this study really shows that sometimes, when it comes to vitamins, you can have too much of a good thing,’ says Jenny Jia at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. However, this research was mainly conducted in people of European ancestry. It is therefore unclear if similar results would occur in people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds, says Jia. (伊利诺斯州芝加哥西北大学的Jenny Jia说：‘我认为这项研究确实表明，有时候，当谈到维生素时，你可能是当作好东西吃得太多了。’然而，这项研究主要是在欧洲血统的人身上进行的。因此，还不清楚不同种族或民族背景的人是否会出现类似的结果，Jia说。)”可知，Jia对这项研究的态度是没有倾向性的，中立的。故选A项。
（2024·湖南衡阳·一模）The water systems within the world’s building and facilities are a major source of carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the global climate crisis, according to a new white paper released by WINT Water Intelligence.
While the availability of clean water has been recognized as an urgent worldwide concern, carbon emissions associated with the production, treatment, and distribution of clean water have often been overlooked. Highlighting the amplifying effect of waste and chronic inefficiency — approximately 25% of all water in the built environment is ultimately wasted, driving up water-related energy use and associated greenhouse emissions, the paper “The Carbon Impact of Water” details the immediate and long-term consequences of our current water infrastructure.
Though greenhouse emissions vary based on the source and distribution method, the research finds that every cubic meter of water consumed generates 10.5 kg of carbon emissions, or 85 pounds for every 1,000 gallons. For some local U. S. governments, where such information is readily available, water and wastewater can account for 30-40% or more of public energy consumption. Moreover, potable water ends up in sewage treatment processes that are not only energy-intensive but also release powerful greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide and methane, which are many times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Unfortunately, inefficiencies are rampant in buildings. Approximately 25% of the water in the built environment is ultimately wasted through leaks, outdated technology, malfunctions, and human error. As a simple example, a leaking toilet continuously flows at 100-150 gallons per hour, wasting more than 1 million gallons a year and accounting for some 4.5 tons of greenhouse emissions — identical to the total annual emissions from a passenger car. In facilities with multiple restrooms, such as office buildings, sports stadiums, and shopping malls, some 2-3% of toilets typically leak at any point in time, creating significant carbon and water footprints.
Inefficient use of water is a significant source of carbon and other greenhouse emissions, but a few key actions, such as proper maintenance and installing advanced water intelligence solutions, mentioned by the paper are highly effective ways of reducing waste, emissions, and overall environmental impact. And the paper concludes it is our generation’s responsibility to efficiently use the water we’ve been given and to identify and curtail the unnecessary, expensive, and environmentally irresponsible waste of this precious resource.
17．What is the paper mainly about
A．Showing the influences of water infrastructure.
B．Giving guidance on how to save water.
C．Solving the problem of water wastage.
D．Promoting the use of water infrastructure.
18．Which of the following statement is true according to paragraph 3 and paragraph 4
A．The toilets in office buildings are all in good conditions.
B．Greenhouse gases will be created in sewage treatment.
C．Water and wastewater cause most of the public energy consumption.
D．A passenger car does more harm than a leaking toilet in greenhouse emissions.
19．What techniques have been used to show the findings
A．Applying metaphors and using puns.
B．Using quotations and making comparisons.
C．Making assumptions and applying exaggeration.
D．Using examples and listing figures.
20．How can people deal with the problems mentioned according to the paper
A．Using water normally. B．Uninstalling water intelligence.
C．Giving appropriate conservation. D．Using water efficiently.
【答案】17．A 18．B 19．D 20．D
【导语】
这是一篇说明文。主要介绍了WINT water Intelligence发布的一份新白皮书表明，全球建筑和设施内的水系统是造成全我们目前的水利基础设施加重了温室气体排放，对环境造成了巨大的影响。
17．细节理解题。根据第二段中“Highlighting the amplifying effect of waste and chronic inefficiency — approximately 25% of all water in the built environment is ultimately wasted, driving up water-related energy use and associated greenhouse emissions, the paper “The Carbon Impact of Water” details the immediate and long-term consequences of our current water infrastructure.”（强调浪费和长期低效率的放大效应——建筑环境中大约25%的水最终被浪费，推动了与水有关的能源使用和相关的温室气体排放，《水的碳影响》详细介绍了我们目前的水基础设施的直接和长期后果。）可知，该论文主要是介绍了关于水基础设施的影响。故选A项。
18．细节理解题。根据第三段“Moreover, potable water ends up in sewage treatment processes that are not only energy-intensive but also release powerful greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide and methane, which are many times more potent than carbon dioxide.”（此外，饮用水最终会进入污水处理过程，这不仅是能源密集型的，而且会释放出强大的温室气体，如一氧化二氮和甲烷，其威力是二氧化碳的数倍。）可知，饮用水最终进入污水处理过程，会产生大量的温室气体。故选B项。
19．推理判断题。根据第三段第一、二句“Though greenhouse emissions vary based on the source and distribution method, the research finds that every cubic meter of water consumed generates 10.5kg of carbon emissions, or 85 pounds for every 1,000 gallons. For some local U. S. governments, where such information is readily available, water and wastewater can account for 30-40% or more of public energy consumption.”（虽然温室气体排放量因来源和分配方式的不同而有所不同，但研究发现，每消耗一立方米的水会产生10.5公斤的碳排放，或每1000加仑产生85磅的碳排放。对于美国一些地方政府来说，这些信息很容易获得，水和废水可能占公共能源消耗的30-40%或更多。）及第四段中“Approximately 25% of the water in the built environment is ultimately wasted through leaks, outdated technology, malfunctions, and human error. As a simple example, a leaking toilet continuously flows at 100-150 gallons per hour, wasting more than 1 million gallons a year and accounting for some 4.5 tons of greenhouse emissions — identical to the total annual emissions from a passenger car. In facilities with multiple restrooms, such as office buildings, sports stadiums, and shopping malls, some 2-3% of toilets typically leak at any point in time, creating significant carbon and water footprints.”（建筑环境中大约25%的水最终因泄漏、过时的技术、故障和人为错误而浪费掉。举个简单的例子，一个漏水的马桶每小时持续流出100-150加仑的水，每年浪费100多万加仑的水，排放约4.5吨温室气体——相当于一辆乘用车每年的总排放量。在有多个卫生间的设施中，如办公楼、体育场馆和购物中心，大约2-3%的厕所通常会在任何时间点漏水，造成大量的碳和水足迹。）可知，文章通过列举大量的数据和例子来说明水基础设施的影响。故选D项。
20．细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句“And the paper concludes it is our generation’s responsibility to efficiently use the water we’ve been given and to identify and curtail the unnecessary, expensive, and environmentally irresponsible waste of this precious resource.”（我们这一代人有责任有效地利用我们所拥有的水资源，并发现和减少对这一宝贵资源不必要的、昂贵的、对环境不负责任的浪费。）可知，我们应该提高水资源利用率，并减少浪费。故选D项。
（2024·湖南长沙·一模）The sporty all-electric car from the Netherlands resembles a BMW car, but is unique: It captures more carbon than it emits. “Our end goal is to create a more sustainable future,” said Jens Lahaije, finance manager for TU/ecomotive, the Eindhoven University of Technology student team that created the car. Called ZEM, for zero emission mobility, the two-seater houses a Cleantron lithium-ion battery (锂电池) pack, and most of its parts are 3D-printed from recycled plastics, Lahaije said. The target is to minimize carbon dioxide emitted during the car’s full lifespan, from manufacturing to recycling, he added.
Battery electric vehicles emit virtually no CO2 during operation compared with combustion-engine (燃烧式发动机) vehicles, but battery cell production can create so much pollution that it can take EVs tens of thousands of miles to achieve “carbon parity (相同)” with comparable fossil-fueled models.
“Direct air capture is a fairly new method of cleaning the air by capturing CO2 into a filter (过滤器). We have made use of this innovative technology and implemented this in our car. The idea is very simple: while driving, air will move through our self-designed filters and the CO2 will be captured and stored.” ZEM uses two filters that can capture up to 2 kilograms (4.41 lb) of CO2 over 20,000 miles of driving, the Eindhoven team estimated. They imagine a future when filters can be emptied at charging stations, based on the fact that there are a nationwide charging infrastructure, which includes residential, commercial and public chargers across the country installed by the Energy Department, automakers and private businesses.
The students are showing their vehicle on a US promotional tour to universities and companies from the East Coast to Silicon Valley, hoping to attract more financial support.
It is hard to tell where the future will take the electric vehicles, but it is clear that they hold a lot of potential for creating a more sustainable future. In the end, only time will tell what road electric vehicles will take in the future.
21．What advantage does the newly-designed car have
A．It looks like a BMW car. B．It is a drive-less car.
C．It’s a carbon-eating electric vehicle. D．It purifies air automatically.
22．What is paragraph 3 mainly about
A．The function of filters. B．The benefits of direct air capture.
C．The application prospect of the technology. D．The operating principle of the technology.
23．What problem do the student team face according to the passage
A．Lack of research fund. B．Unpredictable application prospect.
C．No permission from the government. D．Strong objection from the car companies.
24．What is Jens Lahaije’s attitude toward the future of the sporty all-electric car
A．Doubtful. B．Confident. C．Concerned. D．Pessimistic.
【答案】21．C 22．D 23．A 24．B
【导语】本文是说明文。它详细介绍了一款来自荷兰的新型全电动汽车的设计和特点，包括其独特的能够吸收碳的功能以及使用回收塑料进行3D打印的环保特性。
21．细节理解题。根据第一段“The sporty all-electric car from the Netherlands resembles a BMW car, but is unique: It captures more carbon than it emits.(这款来自荷兰的运动型全电动汽车类似于宝马汽车，但它的独特之处在于：它吸收的碳比排放的要多)”以及“The target is to minimize carbon dioxide emitted during the car’s full lifespan, from manufacturing to recycling, he added.(他补充说，目标是将汽车从制造到回收的整个使用寿命期间的二氧化碳排放量降到最低)”可知，这款新设计的汽车能够吸收比它排放的更多的碳，因此它的优势在于它是一款能够“吃碳”的电动汽车。故选C项。
22．主旨大意题。根据第三段““Direct air capture is a fairly new method of cleaning the air by capturing CO2 into a filter (过滤器). We have made use of this innovative technology and implemented this in our car. The idea is very simple: while driving, air will move through our self-designed filters and the CO2 will be captured and stored.” ZEM uses two filters that can capture up to 2 kilograms (4.41 lb) of CO2 over 20,000 miles of driving, the Eindhoven team estimated. They imagine a future when filters can be emptied at charging stations, based on the fact that there are a nationwide charging infrastructure, which includes residential, commercial and public chargers across the country installed by the Energy Department, automakers and private businesses.(“直接空气捕获是一种相当新的清洁空气的方法，能够将二氧化碳捕获到过滤器中。我们利用了这项创新技术，并将其应用到我们的汽车中。这个想法很简单：在开车的时候，空气会通过我们自己设计的过滤器，二氧化碳会被捕获并储存起来。”埃因霍温团队估计，ZEM使用两个过滤器，在20,000英里的行驶中可以捕获多达2公斤（4.41磅）的二氧化碳。他们设想的未来是，充电站的过滤器可以被清空，因为有一个全国性的充电基础设施，包括由能源部、汽车制造商和私营企业在全国各地安装的住宅、商业和公共充电器)”可知，本段主要介绍了直接空气捕获技术的操作原理，即，通过过滤器捕获二氧化碳。故选D项。
23．细节理解题。根据倒数第二段“The students are showing their vehicle on a US promotional tour to universities and companies from the East Coast to Silicon Valley, hoping to attract more financial support.(学生们正在美国东海岸和硅谷的大学和公司进行宣传之旅，希望能吸引更多的资金支持)”可知，学生们正在美国进行宣传巡回，希望吸引更多的财政支持，因此可以推断出他们面临的问题是缺乏研究资金。故选A项。
24．推理判断题。根据最后一段“It is hard to tell where the future will take the electric vehicles, but it is clear that they hold a lot of potential for creating a more sustainable future. In the end, only time will tell what road electric vehicles will take in the future.(很难说电动汽车的未来将走向何方，但很明显，它们在创造一个更可持续的未来方面具有很大的潜力。最终，只有时间才能告诉我们电动汽车未来将走向何方)”可知，本段提到电动汽车有很大的潜力创造一个更可持续的未来，而根据第一段可知，Jens Lahaije是这个项目的财务经理，因此他对这款运动型全电动汽车的未来应该是充满信心的。因此，他的态度是自信的。故选B项。
（2024·湖南张家界·二模）A study expands positive evidence for a new screening tool that directly engages preschool children during clinic visits to assess their early literacy skills. The tool, called The Reading House (TRH), is the first of its kind. It has the potential to identify reading difficulties as early as possible, according to researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
TRH is an assessment developed by John Hutton and his team for kids aged from 3 to 5. Screening takes just about five minutes and assesses performance levels for kids aged from 3 to 5. It addresses a significant gap in ways to screen early literacy skills efficiently and directly. The tool, which is fun for kids, could be used in places like primary care or preschool settings. The screening measures core skills typically appearing in the preschool age range, including vocabulary, rhyming, alphabet knowledge and print concepts. All are skills predictive of reading success and often associated with reading difficulties.
The study involved 70 healthy children – 34 boys and 36 girls---between 3 and 5 years old from various socioeconomic background. The children completed standardized tests of important literacy skills: vocabulary, rhyming arid rapid automatized naming. Fifty-two of these children also successfully completed MRI (磁共振成像), including the measurement of the gray matter surface of their brains. The thicker cortex (皮质), particularly in left-sided areas supporting language and reading, has been associated with higher skills that are predictive of reading outcomes.
Many children arrive at kindergarten unprepared to learn to read, especially those from minority and economically poor backgrounds---estimated at over 50% of children from disadvantaged backgrounds in the U. S. and over 25% overall. “By screening early during clinic visits, we can target effective interventions that help these children better prepare for kindergarten and improve reading outcomes –literally, snaping thein brains to read. ” said Hutton.
25．What might be the purpose of creating TRH
A．To identify the best reading apps for kids.
B．To develop preschool kids' literacy skills.
C．To discover kids' reading problems early.
D．To study key factors in kids' development.
26．What can we know about the new screening tool
A．It lacks reliability. B．It has operational advantages.
C．It covers a wider target group. D．It's modelled after conventional tools.
27．Which participants may be more capable of reading
A．Older children from minority groups.
B．Younger children from economically advanced areas.
C．Children with complex cortical patterns in their brains.
D．Children with the thicker cortex in the left-sided areas of their brains.
28．What attitude does Hutton have to TRH
A．Doubtful. B．Favorable. C．Uncertain. D．Conservative.
【答案】25．C 26．B 27．D 28．B
【导语】
本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一些研究人员研发出了一个新的工具，可以帮助预测3-5岁的小孩是否会有阅读困难。
25．细节理解题。根据第一段的“The tool, called The Reading House (TRH), is the first of its kind. It has the potential to identify reading difficulties as early as possible, according to researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.(该工具名为“阅览室”（TRH），是同类工具中的第一个。辛辛那提儿童医院医学中心的研究人员表示，它有可能尽早发现阅读困难)”可知，该工具可以确认学龄前儿童是否会有阅读困难。故选C。
26．推理判断题。根据第二段的“Screening takes just about five minutes and assesses performance levels for kids aged from 3 to 5. It addresses a significant gap in ways to screen early literacy skills efficiently and directly.(筛查只需大约五分钟，评估3至5岁儿童的表现水平。它解决了在有效和直接筛选早期识字技能方面的一个重大差距)”可推知，该工具有操作方面的优势——可操作性强。故选B。
27．细节理解题。根据第三段的“The thicker cortex (皮质), particularly in left-sided areas supporting language and reading, has been associated with higher skills that are predictive of reading outcomes.(较厚的皮层，特别是在支持语言和阅读的左侧区域，与预测阅读结果的较高技能有关)”可知，左边大脑皮质层较厚的孩子会有较强的阅读能力。故选D。
28．推理判断题。根据最后一段的“Many children arrive at kindergarten unprepared to learn to read, especially those from minority and economically poor backgrounds---estimated at over 50% of children from disadvantaged backgrounds in the U. S. and over 25% overall.“By screening early during clinic visits, we can target effective interventions that help these children better prepare for kindergarten and improve reading outcomes –literally, snaping thein brains to read. ” said Hutton.(许多孩子在上幼儿园时没有做好学习阅读的准备，尤其是那些来自少数民族和经济贫困背景的孩子——据估计，在美国，超过50%的儿童来自贫困背景，总体上超过25%。Hutton说：“通过在诊所就诊期间尽早进行筛查，我们可以针对有效的干预措施，帮助这些孩子更好地为上幼儿园做准备，并改善阅读效果——实际上，就是在大脑中快速阅读。”)”可知，Hutton认为该工具能帮助改善来自贫穷家庭孩子的阅读，因此他是满怀希望的。故选B。
（2024·湖南长沙·一模）Of all the creatures on the planet, the narwhal is one of the strangest looking. It’s a whale which has a large protruding tusk coming out of its head; that’s how it got, its nickname, the unicorn of the sea. They live in the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Canada, Russia and East Greenland. However, experts say some populations of narwhal could be extinct by 2025, and it’s all because of noise pollution.
Narwhals rely on echolocation, which they use to find food and navigate their surroundings. The animal produces a sound wave which bounces off an object. They pick this reflected sound up through their lower jaw, and information on features like size and speed passes to their ears. However, increase in human marine activity, as well as climate change, has resulted in the Arctic Ocean becoming noisier, which means it’s more difficult for narwhals to rely on sound. Susanna Blackwell, who studies the effects of underwater noise on marine animals, told the BBC that there is noisier activity in the Arctic Ocean than ever because, as sea ice melts, new navigation routes are opening. And while icebergs breaking and creaking have been part of the ocean soundscape for hundreds of years, man-made noise is much harder for animals to adapt to, particularly as these changes are so sudden.
Research published in Science Advances in 2023 recorded the reactions of narwhals to the simulated (模拟的) noises of oil expeditions made by a patrol vessel (巡逻船). The scientists tagged and tracked the creatures and found that, on hearing these sounds, they ended deep dives and stopped clicking, the echolocation signal they use for finding food underwater. This is the same reaction narwhals have to orcas, who hunt them, meaning human-made noise could trigger the creature’s “threat button”.
So, what can we do Charlotte Findlay, a postdoctoral fellow at Aarhus University, says “noise is actually quite easy to solve. We need to either turn it off or turn it down.”
29．What can we learn about the narwhal from the first paragraph
A．It has a large tusk from its jaw. B．It currently faces the risk of dying out.
C．It lives in the southern hemisphere. D．It sounds different from other whales.
30．What does Susanna Blackwell’s study show
A．Narwhals navigate their surroundings by echolocation.
B．Sea ice melting makes the ocean noisier than ever.
C．Man-made noise has a greater impact on marine animals.
D．Narwhals are not used to icebergs breaking and creaking.
31．What does the research mentioned in paragraph 3 imply
A．A patrol vessel was applied in the research. B．Orcas are the natural enemy to narwhals.
C．Noises would change the echolocation signal. D．Scientists tagged narwhals under the water.
32．What’s the best title for the passage
A．Survival of Narwhal threatened by man-made noise.
B．Experts predicting the extinction of the narwhal.
C．New research set to solve underwater noise pollution.
D．Narwhal population affected by underwater noise pollution.
【答案】29．B 30．C 31．C 32．A
【导语】
本文是说明文。文章主要介绍了独角鲸这一生物，阐述了它们的生活习性、生存现状以及所面临的威胁，特别是人为噪音对它们生存的影响。
29．
细节理解题。根据第一段中“However, experts say some populations of narwhal could be extinct by 2025, and it’s all because of noise pollution. (然而，专家表示，到2025年，一些独角鲸种群可能会灭绝，这都是因为噪音污染)”可知，独角鲸目前面临着灭绝的危险。故选B项。
30．
细节理解题。根据第二段中“Susanna Blackwell, who studies the effects of underwater noise on marine animals, told the BBC that there is noisier activity in the Arctic Ocean than ever because, as sea ice melts, new navigation routes are opening. And while icebergs breaking and creaking have been part of the ocean soundscape for hundreds of years, man-made noise is much harder for animals to adapt to, particularly as these changes are so sudden. ( Susanna Blackwell研究水下噪音对海洋动物的影响，她告诉BBC，北冰洋的活动比以往任何时候都要嘈杂，因为随着海冰融化，新的航行路线正在开辟。数百年来，冰山破裂和吱吱作响一直是海洋声景的一部分，但人造噪音对动物来说更难适应，尤其是这些变化太突然了)”可知，Susanna Blackwell的研究显示人造噪音对海洋动物的影响更大。故选C项。
31．
推理判断题。根据第三段“Research published in Science Advances in 2023 recorded the reactions of narwhals to the simulated (模拟的) noises of oil expeditions made by a patrol vessel (巡逻船). The scientists tagged and tracked the creatures and found that, on hearing these sounds, they ended deep dives and stopped clicking, the echolocation signal they use for finding food underwater. This is the same reaction narwhals have to orcas, who hunt them, meaning human-made noise could trigger the creature’s “threat button”. (2023 年发表在《科学进展》上的一项研究记录了独角鲸对巡逻船模拟的石油勘探噪声的反应。科学家们对这些生物进行了标记和追踪，发现它们听到这些声音后，会结束深潜，停止发出点击声，即它们在水下觅食时使用的回声定位信号。这是独角鲸对捕食它们的逆戟鲸做出的同样反应，这意味着人为制造的噪音可能会触发这种生物的“威胁按钮”)”可知，巡逻船模拟的石油勘探噪声会让独角鲸结束深潜，停止发出水下觅食时使用的回声定位信号。由此推知，本段暗示了噪音会改变回声定位信号。故选C项。
32．
主旨大意题。纵观全文，尤其是第一段中“However, experts say some populations of narwhal could be extinct by 2025, and it’s all because of noise pollution. (然而，专家表示，到2025年，一些独角鲸种群可能会灭绝，这都是因为噪音污染)”可知，文章主要讲述了人为噪音对独角鲸生存的威胁。所以A项“Survival of Narwhal threatened by man-made noise (人造噪音威胁独角鲸的生存)”是本文的最佳标题。故选A项。
（2024·湖南·二模）One of the world’s greenest office buildings will formally open its doors this week. It’s a project of the environmentally progressive Bullitt Foundation. Its ambition is bold: to showcase an entirely self-sustaining office building hoping that others will create similar projects.
The first thing that strikes you about the new Bullitt Center is an emphasis on walking. “In a building this size, any place else in Seattle it would have two elevators. Here, the stairway is obvious and attractive,”says Denis Hayes, CEO of the foundation. He explains there is an elevator, but it’s well-hidden. The staircase encourages exercise and the concept helps cut down on energy use.
This is one of dozens of visionary decisions that went into this building. “It has eyes, ears, a nervous system and a brain and it responds to its environment in a way that seeks to optimize (优化) things,” he says. He points across the street to a mini weather station. It sends data to the building so it can decide what it should do to conserve energy.
“I think it’s fair to say we were all a bit skeptical in the beginning, ”says Chris Rogers, the founder of a firm in cooperation with the foundation. Rogers and the others set out to meet the ambitious goals of the Living Building Challenge, a green building standard set by local architects.
Clearly this building is not for everyone. If you think of it as simply an office building, it was relatively pricey to design and build. But if you view it as a laboratory, an educational center and a bold effort to change how things are built, the calculation changes.
Still, one could wonder, is it possible to build more with similar self-sustaining features at a reasonable cost If this building isn’t reproducible, then this experiment will have failed, says Rogers. But if it is successful, he’s optimistic others will follow the foundation’s lead. Rogers points out that over the past couple of decades, many builders have been integrating green elements into their buildings.
33．What motivates the designers to highlight the stairway
A．To beautify the building. B．To offer convenience.
C．To hide the elevator. D．To conserve energy.
34．Which description best summarizes the Bullitt Center according to paragraph 3
A．A living organism. B．A first responder.
C．A brain system. D．A data base.
35．Which argument does Chris Rogers hold probably
A．It is reasonable to hold doubt in the building’s future.
B．The building has been inspired by previous efforts.
C．The reproduction of the building is crucial.
D．The building stands for a progressive force.
36．Which of the following can be the best title for the text
A．Look Inside The World’s Greenest Building B．The Outlook For Green Buildings Is Promising
C．How Can We Build More Green Buildings D．Will This Super Green Building Be Copied
【答案】33．D 34．A 35．C 36．D
【导语】这是一篇说明文。本文主要是先介绍了西雅图一栋超级环保的新建筑的相关特色，从而提出潜在的质疑和探讨 未来类似环保建筑的发展前景。
33．细节理解题。根据第二段“The staircase encourages exercise and the concept helps cut down on energy use.(楼梯鼓励锻炼，这个概念有助于减少能源消耗)”可知，设计师对该栋建筑中楼梯的设计，是出于鼓励锻炼和减少能源消耗的目的。故选D。
34．推理判断题。根据第三段“It has eyes, ears, a nervous system and a brain and it responds to its environment in a way that seeks to optimize (优化) things(它有眼睛、耳朵、神经系统和大脑，并以一种寻求优化事物的方式对环境做出反应)”可推知，Bullitt Center仿佛是一个活的有机体一样。故选 A。
35．推理判断题。根据最后一段“If this building isn’t reproducible, then this experiment will have failed, says Rogers. But if it is successful, he’s optimistic others will follow the foundation’s lead.(罗杰斯说，如果这个建筑不能复制，那么这个实验就失败了。但如果它成功了，他乐观地认为其他人会跟随基金会的脚步)”可推知，该栋环保建筑的复制推广是至关重要的。故选 C。
36．主旨大意题。根据第一段“One of the world’s greenest office buildings will formally open its doors this week. It’s a project of the environmentally progressive Bullitt Foundation. Its ambition is bold: to showcase an entirely self-sustaining office building hoping that others will create similar projects.(世界上最环保的办公大楼之一将于本周正式对外开放。这是环保进步组织布利特基金会的一个项目。它的野心是大胆的：展示一个完全自给自足的办公大楼，希望其他人也能创造出类似的项目)”结合本文主要是先介绍了西雅图一栋超级环保的新建筑的相关特色，从而提出潜在的质疑和探讨未来类似环保建筑的发展前景。D项“超级绿色建筑会被复制吗？”最具概括性，可以统摄全文。故选D。
（2024·湖南·二模）Humans eat an astonishing amount of meat every year-some 800 billion pounds of it, enough flesh to fill roughly 28 million dump trucks. Our desire for meat, particularly in industrialized countries like the United States, is one reason why the planet is warming as fast as it is. Raising animals consumes a lot of land that could otherwise soak up carbon. Cows, sheep, and goats give out heat-trapping methane (甲烷). And to grow the corn, soy, and other plants that those animals eat, farmers spray fertilizer that emits nitrous oxide (一氧化二氮), another planet-warming gas.
Cutting out meat sounds like an effective approach. But what would happen if everyone actually stopped eating meat tomorrow Such a quick shift probably wouldn’t cause the sort of turmoil that would come if the planet immediately abandoned fossil fuels. But still, the consequence could be quite chaotic, causing different problems.
Researchers say the economic damage caused by the sudden disappearance of meat would fall disproportionately on low-income countries with farming economies, like Niger or Kenya, where farming and raising livestock are critical sources of income. Getting rid of livestock overnight would not only deprive many people of essential nutrients, but also threaten food security, especially in regions like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Besides, there’s the issue of cultural damage. Taking away meat, according to Wilson Warren, a history professor at Western Michigan University, would do more than just deprive Americans of hot dogs and hamburgers and Italians of salami.
Rejecting meat entirely, let alone immediately, isn’t an ideal solution to the climate crisis. Dutkiewicz, a political economist at the Pratt Institute, suggested using guidelines established by the EAT-Lancet Commission, an international group of scientists who have designed a diet intended to give people the nutrients they need without destroying the planet.
37．What can be inferred from the first paragraph
A．Feeding animals costs more than growing plants.
B．The USA consumes the most meat annually.
C．Meat consumption may increase global warming.
D．Fertilizer should be banned around the world.
38．What does the underlined word “turmoil” mean in paragraph 2
A．Prediction. B．Disorder. C．Pollution. D．Shortage.
39．Abandoning meat immediately might lead to ______.
A．the global crisis B．improved well-being
C．cultural diversity D．food safety issues
40．What might the author continue talking about
A．The declining meat industry. B．Specific diet suggestions.
C．Global climate crisis. D．Farmers’ protest.
【答案】37．C 38．B 39．D 40．B
【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了肉类消费可能会加剧全球变暖，但是要循序渐进，否则会引发食品安全问题和混乱。
37．细节理解题。根据第一段“Our desire for meat, particularly in industrialized countries like the United States, is one reason why the planet is warming as fast as it is. Raising animals consumes a lot of land that could otherwise soak up carbon. Cows, sheep, and goats give out heat-trapping methane (甲烷). And to grow the corn, soy, and other plants that those animals eat, farmers spray fertilizer that emits nitrous oxide (一氧化二氮), another planet-warming gas.(我们对肉类的渴望，尤其是在像美国这样的工业化国家，是地球变暖速度如此之快的原因之一。饲养动物消耗了大量原本可以吸收碳的土地。牛、绵羊和山羊会释放出吸收热量的甲烷。为了种植这些动物食用的玉米、大豆和其他植物，农民们喷洒的肥料会排放一氧化二氮，这是另一种使地球变暖的气体)”可推知，肉类消费可能会加剧全球变暖。故选C。
38．词句猜测题。根据第二段“But still, the consequence could be quite chaotic, causing different problems.(但是，后果可能是相当混乱的，造成不同的问题)可知，立刻摒弃肉食也许并不会像立即放弃化石燃料一样引起动荡。但是其后果依然混乱，会造成不同的问题。故划线词意思是“混乱”。故选B。
39．细节理解题。根据第三段“Getting rid of livestock overnight would not only deprive many people of essential nutrients, but also threaten food security, especially in regions like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.(一夜之间摆脱牲畜不仅会剥夺许多人的基本营养，而且还会威胁到粮食安全，特别是在南亚和撒哈拉以南非洲地区)”可知，立即放弃肉类可能会导致食品安全问题。故选D。
40．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Dutkiewicz, a political economist at the Pratt Institute, suggested using guidelines established by the EAT-Lancet Commission, an international group of scientists who have designed a diet intended to give people the nutrients they need without destroying the planet.(普拉特研究所的政治经济学家Dutkiewicz建议使用EAT-Lancet委员会制定的指导方针。EAT-Lancet委员会是一个由国际科学家组成的组织，他们设计了一种饮食，旨在为人们提供所需的营养，同时又不破坏地球)”可推知，作者可能会继续谈论具体的饮食建议。故选B。
（2024·湖南·二模）If you’ve ever waded into the ocean for a swim and suddenly realized that the shore is getting farther away, not closer, you may have encountered a rip current (离岸流). Common at beaches worldwide, these powerful currents flow from the shore toward the sea at speeds up to several feet per second.
It’s important to know what rip currents are and how to look for them, because they are a leading cause of drownings in the surf zone near shore. Rip currents can form in several ways. One type of rip current, known as a channel rip current, forms when there are gaps between breaking waves. As waves break, they push water toward the beach and raise the level of the water slightly. If waves break on a sandbar (沙洲), but not in a deeper channel that cuts through the sandbar, the extra water that the waves have pushed toward the beacon escapes back to the ocean through the channel. The darker corridor of the escaping water acts like a conveyor belt, moving water, unsuspecting swimmers and small marine organisms offshore.
Another type, known as a transient or flash rip current, forms when surf is choppy (波涛汹涌的). The edges of breaking waves push on the water and make it spin, like a fast ice skater crashing into someone.
Think of a rip current as a swift river cutting through the surf away from the shore. Swimming against the current is going to tire you out and put you at risk of drowning. Instead, swim parallel to the beach—think of heading for the “river banks”—until you are out of the rip current’s pull. Once you’re no longer fighting it, you can swim back to shore.
Rip currents aren’t just a safety issue. Scientists are beginning to better understand the crucial ecological role they play in the ocean. Many marine organisms, including oysters, barnacles, fish and coral, rely on ocean currents to find suitable habitats. These organisms swim up or down or attach to floating or sinking material and are transported by multiple ocean processes. Rip currents are a key mechanism for carrying larvae (幼体) to deeper waters or recalculating them in shallow waters. The type and behavior of the rip current may affect the movement of marine organisms.
41．What can we learn about channel rip currents according to the text
A．They cause a bit huger waves than common currents.
B．They form around deeper channels in the ocean’s bottom.
C．They present visually as darker areas between breaking waves.
D．They are generated when two waves meet close to the shore.
42．What does the underlined word “transient” in paragraph 3 probably mean
A．Dangerous. B．Powerful. C．Slow-flowing. D．Short-lived.
43．What suggestion does the author give on escaping from a rip current
A．Swimming with the current.
B．Avoiding swimming against the current.
C．Swimming under the current.
D．Avoiding floating with the current.
44．Why are rip currents important to the ocean ecology
A．They redistribute small marine organisms.
B．They provide habitats for marine organisms.
C．They change the structure of marine ecosystems.
D．They bring nutrients from the ocean’s bottom to the surface.
【答案】41．C 42．D 43．B 44．A
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。离岸流是指从海岸经波浪区向海中流动的一股狭窄而强劲的水流。离岸流具有很大的危险性，但同时对于海洋生态具有重要作用。
41．细节理解题。根据第二段的“One type of rip current, known as a channel rip current, forms when there are gaps between breaking waves.(一种类型的离岸流，被称为通道离岸流，当破碎波之间存在间隙时形成。)”及“The darker corridor of the escaping water acts like a conveyor belt, moving water, unsuspecting swimmers and small marine organisms offshore.(流出水的较暗色地带就像一条传送带，移动着水，不知情的游泳者和离岸的小型海洋生物。)”可推知，channel rip currents在视觉上呈现为海浪裂口间较暗的区域。故选C。
42．词义猜测题。根据画线词后面的“or”可知，transient与“flash”是近义词，结合后文“forms when surf is choppy(波浪起伏时形成)”可知，画线词意为“短暂的，瞬间的”。故选D。
43．推理判断题。根据第四段的第二句“Swimming against the current is going to tire you out and put you at risk of drowning.(逆流游泳会使你疲惫不堪，并使你有溺水的危险。)”可知，作者建议避免逆流而游，因为逆流而游会导致疲惫甚至溺水。故选B。
44．推理判断题。根据最后一段的“Rip currents are a key mechanism for carrying larvae (幼体)to deeper waters or recirculation them in shallow waters. The type and behavior of the rip current may affect the movement of marine organisms.(离岸流是将幼虫带到较深水域或在浅水中再循环的关键机制。离岸流的类型和行为可能影响海洋生物的运动。)”可推知，离岸流可重新分配海洋微生物，故而对海洋生态具有重要作用。故选A。
（2024·湖南·二模）Using the health records of more than a million Swedish conscripts (应征入伍者), a recent study revealed that keeping cardiorespiratory (心肺的) fitness in their late teens and early twenties can cut the risk of developing nine types of cancer by 40% when older. The research team from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden said, “These results could be used to further strengthen the promotion of interventions aimed at increasing fitness in youth.”
Almost a third of people aged from 16 to 24 in England aren’t physically active, without meeting guidelines of at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week including walking, riding a bike and dancing.
Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) measures how well the heart, lungs and linked systems work to get oxygen to muscles during constant activities. The conscripts, aged between 16 and 25, had tests of CRF on exercise bikes between 1968 and 2005. The researchers used Swedish health data to see who went on to have cancer during an average follow-up of 33 years. The study found that increasing fitness was beneficial, regardless of body weight. However, they also found that higher fitness was linked to a higher risk of skin cancer. The researchers explained that this trend might be driven by exposure to sunlight.
Findings from those observational studies provide much evidence for a link between higher levels of physical activity and a lower risk of cancer. However, these studies cannot fully rule out the possibility that active people have lower cancer risk because they engage in other lifestyle behaviors. The researchers cautioned that they had no access to full data on factors such as diet, alcohol intake and smoking and so couldn’t fully account for those.
Dr Claire Knight, of Cancer Research UK, said, “The NHS recommends 150 minutes of activity a week, but it’s fine to build up activity over time and there are lots of ways to be more active. You don’t need to run a marathon or join a gym. Anything that gets you warmer and slightly out of breath and your heart beating faster counts.”
45．What’s the significance of the research findings
A．They prove the importance of a good diet.
B．They show how our health declines with age.
C．They stress the importance of general health.
D．They give reasons to improve the health of the young.
46．What do we know about CRF
A．It measures the blood oxygen level.
B．It shows the ability of body systems.
C．It indicates the level of exercise.
D．It controls the spread of cancer in the body.
47．What’s the limitation of the study
A．It didn’t analyze the collected data thoroughly.
B．It connected sunlight exposure with cancer.
C．It failed to suggest the ideal time for exercise.
D．It didn’t consider other health-related factors.
48．What can be a suitable title for the text
A．Lifestyle changes in youth help reduce cancer risks
B．Less exposure to sunshine can rid us of cancer
C．The cardiorespiratory system plays a big role
D．Sports have a great effect on our health
【答案】45．D 46．B 47．D 48．A
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。一个瑞典的研究团队通过长期跟踪应征入伍人员的健康数据发现，年轻时的心肺健康有助于降低老年时患癌的几率，因此提出预防癌症应该从青少年开始干预，改变生活方式，开展适当的体育锻炼。
45．细节理解题。根据第一段中的“The research team from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden said, ‘These results could be used to further strengthen the promotion of interventions aimed at increasing fitness in youth.’(来自瑞典哥德堡大学的研究小组表示：‘这些结果可以用来进一步加强促进旨在提高青少年健康的干预措施。’)”可知，这个瑞典的研究团队认为这个研究结果旨在促进青少年身体健康的干预。故选D。
46．细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) measures how well the heart, lungs and linked systems work to get oxygen to muscles during constant activities.(心肺健康（CRF）衡量的是心脏、肺和相关系统在持续活动中向肌肉输送氧气的情况)”可知，CRF衡量的是心脏、肺和相关系统在持续活动中向肌肉输送氧气的情况，也就是说它衡量的是身体系统的机能，故选B。
47．细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的“The researchers cautioned that they had no access to ful《2024年高考英语名校真题二轮零失误规范训练》（湖南专用）
专题03 阅读理解说明文最新真题模拟16篇（干货+模拟）
原卷版
技能专区：冲刺备考名师提醒，洞悉高考命题规律，提供高效提分干货
一、阅读理解说明文细节理解题注意落实“定位原文”和“同义替换”技巧。
二、数据计算题注重“原文定位”和“细节理解”，弄清来龙去脉再计算。
三、重视说明文“倒三角形”结构，特别是首段和段首的独特引领作用。
四、标题概括题重视三性：概括性、简洁性和新颖性；同时联系首段和关键词。
五、说明文长难句较多增加了理解的难度，落实“括号法”，（从句）（非谓语）
（介词短语）（名词短语）。
六、规范训练目标：做标记，留痕迹；零失误；限时6分钟/每篇。
模拟专区：做好题才有好成绩！练技能，补漏洞，提分数，强信心！
（2024·湖南·一模）On December 16, 2023, the first section of Maya Train officially opened, which runs between Campeche and Cancún, carrying up to 231 passengers across 290 miles and stopping at 14 train stations.
Built as an ambitious effort to promote tourism and boost Mexico’s economy, the rail system connects the major cities and tourist regions of the Yucatán Peninsula-from Cancún’s beaches to Tulum’s archaeological (考古的) wonders. Once the project is completed, the entire rail system will link tourist destinations across five states. However, environmentalists and archaeologists argue that the train route will cause great damage to the environment and ancient Mayan sites.
The Maya Train passes through six UNESCO World Heritage sites, and thousands of archaeological sites. One particular area of concern is the Calakmul biosphere reserve, which is home to many endangered species, such as jaguars and over 500 other animal species. The train lines, more than 60 meters wide, could act as artificial barriers that may limit the movement of these animals within the reserve, making it difficult for them to move around and access food and water sources.
Opponents also express safety concerns. Certain sections of the rail system will be built right on top of the aquifer’s (地下水层的) most fragile points of contact with the surface. “It’s like wanting to build over eggshells, says Guillermo Christy, a water treatment consultant.” Putting trains weighing thousands of tons on top could cause the underground caves to crash down. To construct the train infrastructure (基础设施) also requires driving long piles deep into the ground, which poses a big threat to this fragile ecosystem and leads to water shortages.
In the ongoing debate of Maya Train, it is crucial to consider the delicate balance between economic development and environmental preservation. While Maya Train may provide economic benefits, we must not overlook the potential environmental and cultural losses, as well as the safety risks it may bring. Achieving harmony between progress and conservation may be a significant challenge for the project, but we must take into account the long-term consequences of our actions.
1．What do we know about the Maya Train project
A．It consumes lots of labor in Mexico.
B．It was completed on December 16, 2023.
C．It has concerned some professionals.
D．It blocks the development of local tourism.
2．What is the effect of the train lines on the animals in the reserve
A．They disturb their sleeping patterns. B．They restrict their activities.
C．They pollute their water sources. D．They engage their enemies to the area.
3．Why does the author mention “eggshells” in paragraph 4
A．To show the difficulty of constructing the rail lines.
B．To prove the urgency of protecting the fragile ecosystem.
C．To explain the reasons for water shortages along the railway.
D．To stress the potential harm of Maya Train to the aquifer system.
4．Which statement would the author probably agree with
A．Preserving cultural sites requires strong financial support.
B．It is time to speed up the construction process of Maya Train.
C．Economic development should not come at the expense of the environment.
D．We should prize the economic benefits of the project in the long run.
（2024·湖南·一模）A lot of manufactured glass today made from sand and sodium carbonate (碳酸钠) can be reused or melted down and recycled into new items, but it doesn’t break down in the environment and will sit in landfills for thousands of years. A team of Chinese scientists aimed to deal with this environmental concern by developing an eco-conscious alternative.
In a study published recently in the journal Science Advances, a team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Process Engineering describe how they engineered biodegradable glass made from amino acids (氨基酸). That glass would have a smaller impact on the environment and can break down in a few weeks or in several months.
In a test, glass beads (珠) made out of amino acids were placed under the skin of mice, and the breakdown of the beads and the skin healing process were observed for 30 days. A diagram from the study shows how the mice’s bodies broke down the beads. In that month, the glass implant degraded beneath the skin, the wound site healed, and fur grew back. “Throughout the experimental period, no mice exhibited any pain-related behavior that may have been caused by the glass implantation, and none of them experienced obvious weight loss,” the researchers wrote in their paper.
Although amino acids do degrade over time in the environment, this biodegradable glass is not as durable as traditional glass, because amino acids can break down quickly in heat. In order to overcome this hurdle, the researchers chemically modified the amino acids using the heating-cooling procedure applied in glass manufacturing. This is when materials for the glass are heated to become soft and then rapidly cooled so as to make the glass tougher.
“It’s important to point out that this biodegradable glass is currently in the lab stage, and far from large-scale commercialization,” emphasized Yan Xuehai, a professor involved in the study, in a press release.
5．What is an advantage of the new glass
A．It can be recycled at a low cost. B．It is produced without pollution.
C．It takes less time to. break down. D．It has a wide range of applications.
6．Why did researchers implant glass beads inside mice
A．To assess whether the glass is biologically harmless.
B．To investigate why amino acids are medically useful.
C．To explore how long it takes for the glass to degrade.
D．To observe if the glass can be melt down in mice’s stomach.
7．What does the underlined word “hurdle” in paragraph 4 refer to
A．The instability of amino acids.
B．The difficulty of selecting materials for the glass.
C．Environmental problems caused by traditional glass.
D．The challenge of improving the heating-cooling procedure.
8．What is the attitude of Yan Xuehai towards the new glass’s launch on the market
A．Optimistic. B．Critical. C．Indifferent. D．Uncertain.
（2024·湖南张家界·二模）We normally think of bacteria as our enemies. But they aren’t all bad. Our bodies are full of them and it turns out we can’t live without them. From the moment we’re born, we acquire, and develop an internal ecosystem of symbiotic bacteria and other microbes (微生物) -they are interdependent players in our body. In fact, there are roughly as many microbial cells in our bodies as human cells. This microbial world is called our microbiome (微生物组).
While some microbes can make us ill, we need our microbiome to bined, they are every bit as essential as our heart, our lungs, or our brain. Most of the microbiome is found in our gut (肠道). They are essential for digestion and help regulate hormones and boost our immune system.
A healthy collection of microbes seems to be vital for our well-being, protecting against some of the biggest health threats. On the other hand, having an unhealthy microbiome may be a contributing factor for many common diseases. Our modern lifestyles, western diets and overuse of antibiotics might all be having a harmful effect on our internal ecology.
So how do you develop a healthy microbiome in the gut Well, it seems that the more diverse your microbial population is, the better. And the best way to increase your diversity is to eat a wide range of plant-based foods. Research shows that people who have at least 30 plant-based elements in their diet every week have a wider range of bacteria in their gut, and that’s linked to better weight management, better heart heath and better mental health. One easy way to boost your numbers is to add a teaspoon of mixed seeds to your breakfast.
The influence of your gut microbes goes a lot further than you might think. In the last 20 years, we’ve learned that they communicate constantly with the brain, perhaps even having control over your mood and emotions.
9．Which can best replace the underlined word symbiotic in the first paragraph
A．Coexisting. B．Beneficial. C．Special. D．Complicated.
10．Which statement might the author agree with
A．Plant-based diets make people healthier.
B．Microbiome is more important than our brain.
C．There's some link between the diversity of bacteria and health.
D．The overuse of antibiotics leads to distinct increase in microbiome.
11．What might be discussed after the last paragraph
A．Examples of gut microbes.
B．Gut microbes and mental welling-being.
C．Interactions of microbes in our body.
D．Ways to identify beneficial gut microbes.
12．What's the best title for the passage
A．Gut microbes: Fighters in the body
B．The microbiome: A cure of all diseases
C．Gut microbes: Protectors of mental health
D．The microbiome: A contributor to our health
（2024·湖南衡阳·一模）People with high levels of niacin, also known as vitamin B3, in their blood may be more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those with lower levels. Excessive amounts of the vitamin, which is routinely added to fortified food and can be taken as a supplement, may inflame blood vessels.
Heart attacks and stroke are leading causes of death worldwide. While researchers have made significant strides over the past few decades in discovering the risk factors for these conditions, they haven’t identified them all.
In an effort to fill these gaps, Stanley Hazen at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and his colleagues collected blood samples from 2331 adults in the US and 832 adults in Europe who had elected to undergo cardiovascular screenings. The team analysed the samples for substances called metabolites, byproducts of metabolic processes such as digestion. The researchers then tracked incidents of cardiac events, such as heart attacks and strokes, among the participants over three years.
They found that people with elevated levels of a metabolite called 4PY, which only arises when the body breaks down excess niacin, were around 60 percent more likely, on average, to experience such an event than those with lower levels. And it was found in further experiment that 4PY causes blood vessel inflammation, a major contributor to the development of heart disease, in rodents.
It isn’t uncommon for people to have high niacin levels, Hazen says. This is partially due to certain foods, such as cereals and flours, being routinely fortified with the vitamin in countries that include the UK and the US. Niacin supplements are also increasingly popular as evidence suggests they have anti-ageing benefits, says Hazen. Plus, it wasn’t until recently that doctors stopped prescribing high-dose niacin to people at risk of cardiovascular disease, as it was initially thought the vitamin protected people from these conditions by lowering cholesterol.
“I think this study really shows that sometimes, when it comes to vitamins, you can have too much of a good thing,” says Jenny Jia at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. However, this research was mainly conducted in people of European ancestry. It is therefore unclear if similar results would occur in people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds, says Jia.
13．What is presented in paragraph 3
A．Theoretical models. B．Research procedures.
C．Practical examples. D．Historical findings.
14．What does the underlined phrase “such an event” in paragraph 4 refer to
A．Increased 4PY. B．Extra niacin.
C．Blood vessel inflammation. D．Cardiovascular diseases.
15．What might not be the reason for people to have high niacin levels
A．Having niacin supplement is fashionable. B．Food with niacin can rapid aging.
C．Certain vitamins are added to foods. D．Niacin was prescribed to people.
16．What attitude might Jia have to the study
A．Neutral. B．Supportive. C．Indifferent. D．Doubtful.
（2024·湖南衡阳·一模）The water systems within the world’s building and facilities are a major source of carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the global climate crisis, according to a new white paper released by WINT Water Intelligence.
While the availability of clean water has been recognized as an urgent worldwide concern, carbon emissions associated with the production, treatment, and distribution of clean water have often been overlooked. Highlighting the amplifying effect of waste and chronic inefficiency — approximately 25% of all water in the built environment is ultimately wasted, driving up water-related energy use and associated greenhouse emissions, the paper “The Carbon Impact of Water” details the immediate and long-term consequences of our current water infrastructure.
Though greenhouse emissions vary based on the source and distribution method, the research finds that every cubic meter of water consumed generates 10.5 kg of carbon emissions, or 85 pounds for every 1,000 gallons. For some local U. S. governments, where such information is readily available, water and wastewater can account for 30-40% or more of public energy consumption. Moreover, potable water ends up in sewage treatment processes that are not only energy-intensive but also release powerful greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide and methane, which are many times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Unfortunately, inefficiencies are rampant in buildings. Approximately 25% of the water in the built environment is ultimately wasted through leaks, outdated technology, malfunctions, and human error. As a simple example, a leaking toilet continuously flows at 100-150 gallons per hour, wasting more than 1 million gallons a year and accounting for some 4.5 tons of greenhouse emissions — identical to the total annual emissions from a passenger car. In facilities with multiple restrooms, such as office buildings, sports stadiums, and shopping malls, some 2-3% of toilets typically leak at any point in time, creating significant carbon and water footprints.
Inefficient use of water is a significant source of carbon and other greenhouse emissions, but a few key actions, such as proper maintenance and installing advanced water intelligence solutions, mentioned by the paper are highly effective ways of reducing waste, emissions, and overall environmental impact. And the paper concludes it is our generation’s responsibility to efficiently use the water we’ve been given and to identify and curtail the unnecessary, expensive, and environmentally irresponsible waste of this precious resource.
17．What is the paper mainly about
A．Showing the influences of water infrastructure.
B．Giving guidance on how to save water.
C．Solving the problem of water wastage.
D．Promoting the use of water infrastructure.
18．Which of the following statement is true according to paragraph 3 and paragraph 4
A．The toilets in office buildings are all in good conditions.
B．Greenhouse gases will be created in sewage treatment.
C．Water and wastewater cause most of the public energy consumption.
D．A passenger car does more harm than a leaking toilet in greenhouse emissions.
19．What techniques have been used to show the findings
A．Applying metaphors and using puns.
B．Using quotations and making comparisons.
C．Making assumptions and applying exaggeration.
D．Using examples and listing figures.
20．How can people deal with the problems mentioned according to the paper
A．Using water normally. B．Uninstalling water intelligence.
C．Giving appropriate conservation. D．Using water efficiently.
（2024·湖南长沙·一模）The sporty all-electric car from the Netherlands resembles a BMW car, but is unique: It captures more carbon than it emits. “Our end goal is to create a more sustainable future,” said Jens Lahaije, finance manager for TU/ecomotive, the Eindhoven University of Technology student team that created the car. Called ZEM, for zero emission mobility, the two-seater houses a Cleantron lithium-ion battery (锂电池) pack, and most of its parts are 3D-printed from recycled plastics, Lahaije said. The target is to minimize carbon dioxide emitted during the car’s full lifespan, from manufacturing to recycling, he added.
Battery electric vehicles emit virtually no CO2 during operation compared with combustion-engine (燃烧式发动机) vehicles, but battery cell production can create so much pollution that it can take EVs tens of thousands of miles to achieve “carbon parity (相同)” with comparable fossil-fueled models.
“Direct air capture is a fairly new method of cleaning the air by capturing CO2 into a filter (过滤器). We have made use of this innovative technology and implemented this in our car. The idea is very simple: while driving, air will move through our self-designed filters and the CO2 will be captured and stored.” ZEM uses two filters that can capture up to 2 kilograms (4.41 lb) of CO2 over 20,000 miles of driving, the Eindhoven team estimated. They imagine a future when filters can be emptied at charging stations, based on the fact that there are a nationwide charging infrastructure, which includes residential, commercial and public chargers across the country installed by the Energy Department, automakers and private businesses.
The students are showing their vehicle on a US promotional tour to universities and companies from the East Coast to Silicon Valley, hoping to attract more financial support.
It is hard to tell where the future will take the electric vehicles, but it is clear that they hold a lot of potential for creating a more sustainable future. In the end, only time will tell what road electric vehicles will take in the future.
21．What advantage does the newly-designed car have
A．It looks like a BMW car. B．It is a drive-less car.
C．It’s a carbon-eating electric vehicle. D．It purifies air automatically.
22．What is paragraph 3 mainly about
A．The function of filters. B．The benefits of direct air capture.
C．The application prospect of the technology. D．The operating principle of the technology.
23．What problem do the student team face according to the passage
A．Lack of research fund. B．Unpredictable application prospect.
C．No permission from the government. D．Strong objection from the car companies.
24．What is Jens Lahaije’s attitude toward the future of the sporty all-electric car
A．Doubtful. B．Confident. C．Concerned. D．Pessimistic.
（2024·湖南张家界·二模）A study expands positive evidence for a new screening tool that directly engages preschool children during clinic visits to assess their early literacy skills. The tool, called The Reading House (TRH), is the first of its kind. It has the potential to identify reading difficulties as early as possible, according to researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
TRH is an assessment developed by John Hutton and his team for kids aged from 3 to 5. Screening takes just about five minutes and assesses performance levels for kids aged from 3 to 5. It addresses a significant gap in ways to screen early literacy skills efficiently and directly. The tool, which is fun for kids, could be used in places like primary care or preschool settings. The screening measures core skills typically appearing in the preschool age range, including vocabulary, rhyming, alphabet knowledge and print concepts. All are skills predictive of reading success and often associated with reading difficulties.
The study involved 70 healthy children – 34 boys and 36 girls---between 3 and 5 years old from various socioeconomic background. The children completed standardized tests of important literacy skills: vocabulary, rhyming arid rapid automatized naming. Fifty-two of these children also successfully completed MRI (磁共振成像), including the measurement of the gray matter surface of their brains. The thicker cortex (皮质), particularly in left-sided areas supporting language and reading, has been associated with higher skills that are predictive of reading outcomes.
Many children arrive at kindergarten unprepared to learn to read, especially those from minority and economically poor backgrounds---estimated at over 50% of children from disadvantaged backgrounds in the U. S. and over 25% overall. “By screening early during clinic visits, we can target effective interventions that help these children better prepare for kindergarten and improve reading outcomes –literally, snaping thein brains to read. ” said Hutton.
25．What might be the purpose of creating TRH
A．To identify the best reading apps for kids.
B．To develop preschool kids' literacy skills.
C．To discover kids' reading problems early.
D．To study key factors in kids' development.
26．What can we know about the new screening tool
A．It lacks reliability. B．It has operational advantages.
C．It covers a wider target group. D．It's modelled after conventional tools.
27．Which participants may be more capable of reading
A．Older children from minority groups.
B．Younger children from economically advanced areas.
C．Children with complex cortical patterns in their brains.
D．Children with the thicker cortex in the left-sided areas of their brains.
28．What attitude does Hutton have to TRH
A．Doubtful. B．Favorable. C．Uncertain. D．Conservative.
（2024·湖南长沙·一模）Of all the creatures on the planet, the narwhal is one of the strangest looking. It’s a whale which has a large protruding tusk coming out of its head; that’s how it got, its nickname, the unicorn of the sea. They live in the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Canada, Russia and East Greenland. However, experts say some populations of narwhal could be extinct by 2025, and it’s all because of noise pollution.
Narwhals rely on echolocation, which they use to find food and navigate their surroundings. The animal produces a sound wave which bounces off an object. They pick this reflected sound up through their lower jaw, and information on features like size and speed passes to their ears. However, increase in human marine activity, as well as climate change, has resulted in the Arctic Ocean becoming noisier, which means it’s more difficult for narwhals to rely on sound. Susanna Blackwell, who studies the effects of underwater noise on marine animals, told the BBC that there is noisier activity in the Arctic Ocean than ever because, as sea ice melts, new navigation routes are opening. And while icebergs breaking and creaking have been part of the ocean soundscape for hundreds of years, man-made noise is much harder for animals to adapt to, particularly as these changes are so sudden.
Research published in Science Advances in 2023 recorded the reactions of narwhals to the simulated (模拟的) noises of oil expeditions made by a patrol vessel (巡逻船). The scientists tagged and tracked the creatures and found that, on hearing these sounds, they ended deep dives and stopped clicking, the echolocation signal they use for finding food underwater. This is the same reaction narwhals have to orcas, who hunt them, meaning human-made noise could trigger the creature’s “threat button”.
So, what can we do Charlotte Findlay, a postdoctoral fellow at Aarhus University, says “noise is actually quite easy to solve. We need to either turn it off or turn it down.”
29．What can we learn about the narwhal from the first paragraph
A．It has a large tusk from its jaw. B．It currently faces the risk of dying out.
C．It lives in the southern hemisphere. D．It sounds different from other whales.
30．What does Susanna Blackwell’s study show
A．Narwhals navigate their surroundings by echolocation.
B．Sea ice melting makes the ocean noisier than ever.
C．Man-made noise has a greater impact on marine animals.
D．Narwhals are not used to icebergs breaking and creaking.
31．What does the research mentioned in paragraph 3 imply
A．A patrol vessel was applied in the research. B．Orcas are the natural enemy to narwhals.
C．Noises would change the echolocation signal. D．Scientists tagged narwhals under the water.
32．What’s the best title for the passage
A．Survival of Narwhal threatened by man-made noise.
B．Experts predicting the extinction of the narwhal.
C．New research set to solve underwater noise pollution.
D．Narwhal population affected by underwater noise pollution.
（2024·湖南·二模）One of the world’s greenest office buildings will formally open its doors this week. It’s a project of the environmentally progressive Bullitt Foundation. Its ambition is bold: to showcase an entirely self-sustaining office building hoping that others will create similar projects.
The first thing that strikes you about the new Bullitt Center is an emphasis on walking. “In a building this size, any place else in Seattle it would have two elevators. Here, the stairway is obvious and attractive,”says Denis Hayes, CEO of the foundation. He explains there is an elevator, but it’s well-hidden. The staircase encourages exercise and the concept helps cut down on energy use.
This is one of dozens of visionary decisions that went into this building. “It has eyes, ears, a nervous system and a brain and it responds to its environment in a way that seeks to optimize (优化) things,” he says. He points across the street to a mini weather station. It sends data to the building so it can decide what it should do to conserve energy.
“I think it’s fair to say we were all a bit skeptical in the beginning, ”says Chris Rogers, the founder of a firm in cooperation with the foundation. Rogers and the others set out to meet the ambitious goals of the Living Building Challenge, a green building standard set by local architects.
Clearly this building is not for everyone. If you think of it as simply an office building, it was relatively pricey to design and build. But if you view it as a laboratory, an educational center and a bold effort to change how things are built, the calculation changes.
Still, one could wonder, is it possible to build more with similar self-sustaining features at a reasonable cost If this building isn’t reproducible, then this experiment will have failed, says Rogers. But if it is successful, he’s optimistic others will follow the foundation’s lead. Rogers points out that over the past couple of decades, many builders have been integrating green elements into their buildings.
33．What motivates the designers to highlight the stairway
A．To beautify the building. B．To offer convenience.
C．To hide the elevator. D．To conserve energy.
34．Which description best summarizes the Bullitt Center according to paragraph 3
A．A living organism. B．A first responder.
C．A brain system. D．A data base.
35．Which argument does Chris Rogers hold probably
A．It is reasonable to hold doubt in the building’s future.
B．The building has been inspired by previous efforts.
C．The reproduction of the building is crucial.
D．The building stands for a progressive force.
36．Which of the following can be the best title for the text
A．Look Inside The World’s Greenest Building B．The Outlook For Green Buildings Is Promising
C．How Can We Build More Green Buildings D．Will This Super Green Building Be Copied
（2024·湖南·二模）Humans eat an astonishing amount of meat every year-some 800 billion pounds of it, enough flesh to fill roughly 28 million dump trucks. Our desire for meat, particularly in industrialized countries like the United States, is one reason why the planet is warming as fast as it is. Raising animals consumes a lot of land that could otherwise soak up carbon. Cows, sheep, and goats give out heat-trapping methane (甲烷). And to grow the corn, soy, and other plants that those animals eat, farmers spray fertilizer that emits nitrous oxide (一氧化二氮), another planet-warming gas.
Cutting out meat sounds like an effective approach. But what would happen if everyone actually stopped eating meat tomorrow Such a quick shift probably wouldn’t cause the sort of turmoil that would come if the planet immediately abandoned fossil fuels. But still, the consequence could be quite chaotic, causing different problems.
Researchers say the economic damage caused by the sudden disappearance of meat would fall disproportionately on low-income countries with farming economies, like Niger or Kenya, where farming and raising livestock are critical sources of income. Getting rid of livestock overnight would not only deprive many people of essential nutrients, but also threaten food security, especially in regions like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Besides, there’s the issue of cultural damage. Taking away meat, according to Wilson Warren, a history professor at Western Michigan University, would do more than just deprive Americans of hot dogs and hamburgers and Italians of salami.
Rejecting meat entirely, let alone immediately, isn’t an ideal solution to the climate crisis. Dutkiewicz, a political economist at the Pratt Institute, suggested using guidelines established by the EAT-Lancet Commission, an international group of scientists who have designed a diet intended to give people the nutrients they need without destroying the planet.
37．What can be inferred from the first paragraph
A．Feeding animals costs more than growing plants.
B．The USA consumes the most meat annually.
C．Meat consumption may increase global warming.
D．Fertilizer should be banned around the world.
38．What does the underlined word “turmoil” mean in paragraph 2
A．Prediction. B．Disorder. C．Pollution. D．Shortage.
39．Abandoning meat immediately might lead to ______.
A．the global crisis B．improved well-being
C．cultural diversity D．food safety issues
40．What might the author continue talking about
A．The declining meat industry. B．Specific diet suggestions.
C．Global climate crisis. D．Farmers’ protest.
（2024·湖南·二模）If you’ve ever waded into the ocean for a swim and suddenly realized that the shore is getting farther away, not closer, you may have encountered a rip current (离岸流). Common at beaches worldwide, these powerful currents flow from the shore toward the sea at speeds up to several feet per second.
It’s important to know what rip currents are and how to look for them, because they are a leading cause of drownings in the surf zone near shore. Rip currents can form in several ways. One type of rip current, known as a channel rip current, forms when there are gaps between breaking waves. As waves break, they push water toward the beach and raise the level of the water slightly. If waves break on a sandbar (沙洲), but not in a deeper channel that cuts through the sandbar, the extra water that the waves have pushed toward the beacon escapes back to the ocean through the channel. The darker corridor of the escaping water acts like a conveyor belt, moving water, unsuspecting swimmers and small marine organisms offshore.
Another type, known as a transient or flash rip current, forms when surf is choppy (波涛汹涌的). The edges of breaking waves push on the water and make it spin, like a fast ice skater crashing into someone.
Think of a rip current as a swift river cutting through the surf away from the shore. Swimming against the current is going to tire you out and put you at risk of drowning. Instead, swim parallel to the beach—think of heading for the “river banks”—until you are out of the rip current’s pull. Once you’re no longer fighting it, you can swim back to shore.
Rip currents aren’t just a safety issue. Scientists are beginning to better understand the crucial ecological role they play in the ocean. Many marine organisms, including oysters, barnacles, fish and coral, rely on ocean currents to find suitable habitats. These organisms swim up or down or attach to floating or sinking material and are transported by multiple ocean processes. Rip currents are a key mechanism for carrying larvae (幼体) to deeper waters or recalculating them in shallow waters. The type and behavior of the rip current may affect the movement of marine organisms.
41．What can we learn about channel rip currents according to the text
A．They cause a bit huger waves than common currents.
B．They form around deeper channels in the ocean’s bottom.
C．They present visually as darker areas between breaking waves.
D．They are generated when two waves meet close to the shore.
42．What does the underlined word “transient” in paragraph 3 probably mean
A．Dangerous. B．Powerful. C．Slow-flowing. D．Short-lived.
43．What suggestion does the author give on escaping from a rip current
A．Swimming with the current.
B．Avoiding swimming against the current.
C．Swimming under the current.
D．Avoiding floating with the current.
44．Why are rip currents important to the ocean ecology
A．They redistribute small marine organisms.
B．They provide habitats for marine organisms.
C．They change the structure of marine ecosystems.
D．They bring nutrients from the ocean’s bottom to the surface.
（2024·湖南·二模）Using the health records of more than a million Swedish conscripts (应征入伍者), a recent study revealed that keeping cardiorespiratory (心肺的) fitness in their late teens and early twenties can cut the risk of developing nine types of cancer by 40% when older. The research team from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden said, “These results could be used to further strengthen the promotion of interventions aimed at increasing fitness in youth.”
Almost a third of people aged from 16 to 24 in England aren’t physically active, without meeting guidelines of at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week including walking, riding a bike and dancing.
Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) measures how well the heart, lungs and linked systems work to get oxygen to muscles during constant activities. The conscripts, aged between 16 and 25, had tests of CRF on exercise bikes between 1968 and 2005. The researchers used Swedish health data to see who went on to have cancer during an average follow-up of 33 years. The study found that increasing fitness was beneficial, regardless of body weight. However, they also found that higher fitness was linked to a higher risk of skin cancer. The researchers explained that this trend might be driven by exposure to sunlight.
Findings from those observational studies provide much evidence for a link between higher levels of physical activity and a lower risk of cancer. However, these studies cannot fully rule out the possibility that active people have lower cancer risk because they engage in other lifestyle behaviors. The researchers cautioned that they had no access to full data on factors such as diet, alcohol intake and smoking and so couldn’t fully account for those.
Dr Claire Knight, of Cancer Research UK, said, “The NHS recommends 150 minutes of activity a week, but it’s fine to build up activity over time and there are lots of ways to be more active. You don’t need to run a marathon or join a gym. Anything that gets you warmer and slightly out of breath and your heart beating faster counts.”
45．What’s the significance of the research findings
A．They prove the importance of a good diet.
B．They show how our health declines with age.
C．They stress the importance of general health.
D．They give reasons to improve the health of the young.
46．What do we know about CRF
A．It measures the blood oxygen level.
B．It shows the ability of body systems.
C．It indicates the level of exercise.
D．It controls the spread of cancer in the body.
47．What’s the limitation of the study
A．It didn’t analyze the collected data thoroughly.
B．It connected sunlight exposure with cancer.
C．It failed to suggest the ideal time for exercise.
D．It didn’t consider other health-related factors.
48．What can be a suitable title for the text
A．Lifestyle changes in youth help reduce cancer risks
B．Less exposure to sunshine can rid us of cancer
C．The cardiorespiratory system plays a big role
D．Sports have a great effect on our health
（23-24高三下·湖南长沙·开学考试）As new data from Famileo reveals the loneliness issue in the UK, its founder looks at the reality of social isolation in today’s digital age.
A consumer survey conducted by Famileo has revealed that nearly half of British adults feel disconnected from their loved ones nowadays. The past few years have been unquestionably tough. The isolation of the pandemic has led to many of us experiencing prolonged feelings of loneliness and seclusion (隐居), even long after any restrictions were lifted. Pair this with the ongoing cost of living crisis, and people are socializing with others far less than before. The way we interact with others has become dominated by digital channels, social media exactly. While social media have proven an incredibly useful tool, most of Brits believe that our growing reliance on technology to interact has impacted the frequency of in-person social interaction, leading to increased isolation.
Another contributing factor to social isolation is physical bined with the demands of our increasingly busy lives, the physical distance between family members often prevents us from keeping in contact with our loved ones as often as we would like.
Talking of social isolation, our minds often spring straight to the older generations who regularly find themselves left out, owing to their declining physical capacity and a gap in digital literacy. Interestingly though, despite effortlessly navigating the digital landscape, it is younger generations who report feeling the most isolated, 41 per cent of people aged from 16 to 24 feeling the rise of social media causing increased isolation.
While digital platforms like Facebook serve as a means to send photos and life updates quickly and easily, the majority of Brits still love the tangible (可触摸的、可感知的) experience of receiving personal post. Considered a dying art, it is clear snail mail, still has its place. Whether it be a letter, birthday card, or family newsletter, I have seen how enriching the touchable experience of sending and receiving personal post can be, to people of all ages. Nurturing relationships and fostering a profound sense of being loved and better connected to loved ones, it is a vital tool that we should employ as a means to not only relieve the effects of social isolation, but simply brighten someone else’s day.
49．What does the word “lifted” underlined in the second paragraph refer to
A．Removed. B．Placed. C．Ignored. D．Raised.
50．What is the attitude of the majority of the British towards the impact of digital channels on social contact
A．Neutral. B．Indifferent. C．Favorable. D．Critical.
51．What does the author suggest readers do
A．Make someone else’s day. B．Turn to snail mail in the digital age.
C．Bridge the gap in digital literacy. D．Foster a: sense of loving and being loved.
52．Which of the following is the best title for the text
A．The Hardship of the Past Few Years B．Exchanging Touchable Personal Post
C．Social Isolation in the Digital Age D．Older Generations’ Gap in Digital Landscape
（23-24高三下·湖南邵阳·开学考试）Plastic, which is now common, contains endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs (内分泌干扰物), that has been linked to increased risk of many chronic diseases. Parental exposure to EDCs, for example, has been shown to cause metabolic (新陈代谢的) disorders, including obesity and diabetes, in the later generations.
Led by Changcheng Zhou, a professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of California, the researchers investigated the impact of fathers’ exposure to a phthalate called dicyclohexyl phthalate, or DCHP (邻苯二甲酸二环己酯), on the metabolic health of first generation (F1) and second generation (F2) in mice. Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastic more durable.
The researchers found that fathers’ DCHP exposure for four weeks led to high insulin (胰岛素) resistance and impaired insulin signaling in F1. The same effect, but weaker, was seen in F2 .
“We found fathers’ exposure to EDCs may have intergenerational and transgenerational detrimental effects on the metabolic health of their later generations, ”Zhou said. “To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to demonstrate this.”
In the case of fathers’ exposure in the study, intergenerational effects are changes that occur due to direct exposure to a stressor, such as exposure to DCHP of fathers (F0 generation) and his F1 generation. Transgenerational effects are changes passed down to later generations that are not directly exposed to the stressor (for example, F2 generation).
“This suggests that fathers’ DCHP exposure can lead to sex-specific transgenerational effects on the metabolic health of their later generations,” Zhou said.
Zhou stressed that the impact of exposure to DCHP on human health is not well understood, even though DCHP is widely used in a variety of plastic products and has been detected in food, water, and indoor particulate matter.
“It’s best to minimize our use of plastic products,” Zhou said. “This can also help reduce plastic pollution, one of our most pressing environmental issues.”
53．Why are phthalates added to plastic
A．To beautify it. B．To make it long-lasting.
C．To reduce its cost. D．To increase its weight.
54．What does the underlined word “detrimental” in paragraph 4 probably mean
A．Negative. B．External. C．Distinct. D．Adventurous.
55．What did Zhou advise people to do
A．Bury plastic waste. B．Watch out for the food they eat.
C．Use fewest plastic products. D．Never produce plastic products.
56．What can be a suitable title for the text
A．Plastic contains endocrine disrupting chemicals
B．Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue
C．DCHP is widely used in a variety of plastic products
D．Chemicals in plastic may impact two generations’ health
（23-24高三下·湖南邵阳·开学考试）Face blindness, a mystifying condition that can trick us into believing we recognize people we’ve never met or make us fail to recognize those we have, has been previously estimated to affect between 2 and 2.5 percent of people in the world.Now, a new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and the VA Boston Healthcare System is providing fresh insights into the disorder, suggesting it may be more common than currently believed.
Published in February 2023 in Cortex, the study findings indicate that as many as one in 33 people may meet the criteria for face blindness, or prosopagnosia (面孔失认症).“This translates to more than 10 million Americans,” the research team said.
The study found similar face-matching performance between people diagnosed with prosopagnosia using stricter vs looser criteria, suggesting that diagnostic criteria should be expanded to be more inclusive. That could lead to new diagnoses among millions who may have the disorder but don’t realize it.
The study results are based on a web-based questionnaire and tests administered to 3,341 individuals.First, the researchers asked participants whether they experience difficulties recognizing faces in their everyday lives.Then they administered two objective tests to determine whether they had difficulties learning new faces or recognizing highly familiar famous faces.
The results showed that 31 individuals out of the 3,341 had major prosopagnosia, while 72 of the 3,341 had a milder form. The researchers also observed that there were no neatly divided separate groups of people with poor or good ability to recognize faces. Rather, the ability to recognize faces appeared to lie on a continuum (连续体).
Finally, the researchers compared face-matching scores among people with prosopagnosia diagnosed using different criteria and found that using stricter diagnostic cutoffs did not correspond with lower face-matching scores.
In the new study, the researchers provide diagnostic suggestions for identifying mild and major forms of prosopagnosia based on guidelines for major and mild neurocognitive disorders in the DSM5, the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
57．Which of the following indicates a person has face blindness
A．Failing to identify his belongings.
B．Being able to recognize his friends.
C．Mistaking a stranger for an acquaintance.
D．Misunderstanding ones’ facial expressions.
58．What question is sure to be included in the questionnaire
A．Do you have trouble recognizing faces
B．Do you know what face blindness means
C．Do you know anybody with face blindness
D．Do you experience difficulties in everyday life
59．What do we know about the DSM5
A．It came up based on the new study.
B．It has experienced four revisions.
C．It is only used to identify face blindness.
D．It participated in and funded the new study.
60．Where is the text most likely from
A．A fiction novel. B．A fashion website.
C．A health brochure. D．A science magazine.
（2024·湖南邵阳·二模）Many industries are facing a shortage of labour. Warehousing has grown rapidly. And robots are now indispensable, picking items off shelves and helping people pack an exponentially rising numbers of boxes. They are even beginning to walk slowly along some pavements, delivering goods or food right to people’s doors. Having more robots to boost productivity would be a good thing.
And yet many people fear that robots will destroy jobs. A paper in 2013 by economists at Oxford University was widely misinterpreted as meaning that 47% of American jobs were at risk of being automated.
In fact, concerns about mass unemployment because of robots are overblown. The evidence suggests robots will be ultimately beneficial for labour markets. A Yale University study found that an increase of one robot unit per 1, 000 workers boosted a company’s employment in Japan. Another study, by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and colleagues elsewhere, looked at Finnish firms and concluded that their use of advanced technologies led to increases in hiring.
For all that, the march of the robots will bring big changes to workplaces. The skills and firms that are rewarded will shift, too. But that need not be the disaster many fear. One supposed example of “bad automation” is self-service checkouts in supermarkets because they displace human workers. Checkout staff who retrain to help customers pick items from aisles may well find that dealing with people in need is more rewarding than spending all day scanning barcodes.
Certainly, some people will be on the losing end of change even as the robots make society as a whole better off. One lesson from the freewheeling globalization of the 1990s and 2000s is that the growth in trade that was overwhelmingly beneficial contributed to a political backlash (强烈抵制) because the losers felt left behind. That’s one more reason why firms and governments would do well to recognize the value of retraining and lifelong learning. As jobs change, workers should be helped to acquire new skills, including how to work with and manage the robots that will increasingly be their colleagues.
The potential gains from the robot revolution have just started. It won’t be the plot in some films where the robots fight against their human masters and cause mass unemployment.
61．What does the underlined word “indispensable” mean in Paragraph 1
A．Essential. B．Spare. C．Detective. D．Complicated.
62．Why does the author mention the example of “bad automation” in Paragraph 4
A．To prove that robots will not be a disaster.
B．To remind us of the big changes at workplaces.
C．To illustrate checkout staff will scan barcodes slowly.
D．To tell firms the value of retraining and lifelong learning.
63．According to the author, what will happen in the future
A．It will push losers to leave behind.
B．Robots may lead to mass unemployment.
C．People will help robots to gain new skills.
D．Robots and people may become co-workers.
64．What does the author may agree in the text
A．Jobs will be at risk due to robots.
B．No evidence shows that robots will destroy jobs.
C．Lifelong learning will quickly boost mass employment.
D．People have benefited a lot from the robot revolution.
（2024·湖南长沙·一模）Every order of takeout comes with aside of single-use plastics and each plastic fork, knife, spoon and straw—whether or not you wanted it or used it—ends up in the trash.
New research found that 139 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste was generated in 2021—six million metric tons more single-use plastics compared to2019. A hunger for takeout meals during the pandemic contributed to the surge.
An estimated 60%of Americans order takeout or delivery at least once a week and online ordering is growing 300%faster than in-house dining; that means millions of single-use plastic utensils (餐具) are going out with every order.
New laws aim to address the problem. Some of the recent bills are thanks to The National Reuse Network, part of the environmental nonprofit Upstream, which launched a national Skip the Stuff campaign to work out policies that require restaurants to include single-use plastic utensils, straws, and napkins only when customers request them.
The bills also require meal delivery and online apps like Uber Eats, GrubHub and Door Dash to add single-use extras to their menus; customers can choose the items and quantities to have them included in the order. Customers that don’t order the single-use plastics won’t receive them.
The goal of the bills is to reduce the 40 billion plastic utensils sent to the landfill (填埋场) every year.
“Most of the time, people are taking food home or to their offices where there are reusable utensils so these utensils wind up in a drawer or get thrown out,” says Goldsmith. “Some people do need utensils, but for the most part, they’re not needed.”
To date, Skip the Stuff bills have been passed in several cities, including Denver, Washington, D．C． and Chicago. California and Washington state passed statewide bills that make single-use plastic “accessories” available with takeout orders only upon request.
Organizations like upstream, Beyond plastics and NRDC have created toolkits to help additional communities launch their own Skip the Stuff campaigns.
65．What does the underlined word “surge” in paragraph 2 probably mean
A．Strong panic. B．Good solution.
C．Sharp increase. D．Great pressure
66．What can be done according to Skip the Stuff
A．Selecting green products.
B．Providing utensils only on request.
C．Recycling and reusing some utensils.
D．Using identical products nationwide.
67．What is the aim of the newly passed bills
A．To better serve customers. B．To reduce plastic waste.
C．To correct bad eating habits. D．To prevent illegal activities.
68．What is Goldsmith’s attitude towards the Skip the Stuff campaign
A．Concerned. B．Doubtful. C．Favorable. D．Unclear.
